Frugal. By Nature.

The Attitude Adjustment You Need When It Comes to Money

There’s a little thing we tell ourselves about our money that has big financial consequences.

We say it innocently and hopefully. Sometimes we say it often.

“If only I had more money.”

We think that if we just earned a little more money or we just got some lucky break and got a little windfall, things would be better.

And it’s just not true.

Oh, sure, a little extra money helps, but not for long. That extra bit of money is just a Band-Aid on an attitude problem. Having more money doesn’t change how you handle it. It just changes your situation momentarily.

If you don’t believe me that more money is not the solution to your problems, then consider this: How much money did you make 5 or 10 years ago? I’m willing to bet that you make more money now than you did then. More money didn’t make a difference.

Did you get an income tax refund this year? Maybe you got $200 or maybe you got $2,000. Did it change your life? Have your personal finances taken a dramatic turn for the better since that extra money came into your life? I’m guessing that money made you feel good… until it was gone. Then it was back to telling yourself that little lie about how much better things would be if you had more money.

More money might help in the short-term, but real financial change comes from a change in attitude.

Start by being honest with yourself. Why do you need more money?

Let’s ask ourselves if we really need more cash. If we’ve cut all there is to cut from our budgets, then what things can we do to change our situation? Do we need to go back to school? Find another job? Find ways to bring in extra money? Just saying you wish you had more money isn’t going to bring money in. You have to do something about it.

Look at how you spend money. What are you spending it on? Why are you spending it on those things?

What expenses do we trick ourselves into believing are needs, when in actuality they are really luxuries? How could we spend our money differently so that we are able to save more of it?

What are all of the positive things in your life? Are you healthy? Do you have a place to live? Clothes on your back? Food in your belly? Do you have friends and family who love you? What do you have that you aren’t appreciating? You may not have much in your bank account, but you are probably richer than you think.

Let’s stop hoping for more money to fix everything and instead look at how we can change our spending habits to fix our situation.

If we can start to believe that we are the ones in control of our finances, we can begin to take the steps to fix them. Waiting for pay raises and windfalls is only letting fate control your money. Why not take the wheel?

It’s time for an attitude adjustment.

The attitude adjustment starts with you, and it starts today. Stop saying, “If I only had more money,” and start figuring out why you don’t.

Comments

SPOT ON!!!! We have gotten “lucky” many many times over the decades, inheritances, people just wanting to help us financially, windfalls….sure felt good for awhile. Then back to the same problem later. Now we are 58 & 60 & not going to get bailed this time, sinking & sinking fast. Wish more than 1 of us realized it’s our own fault.

I agree, we are really living on little because we want land. Do things happen to take what we have saved so far, yes. I get myself up and start where I have to. I will have land and a small home without big debt. This is a promise I made my husband and his was never to ask if I say there isn’t enough.